"As yet there is no prospect of her marriage. Doubtless this winter will make a change." "Well, I do not complain of a circumstance that leaves my daughter to bless my own life. But there has been talk--a great deal of talk--people do not believe that it is Antony you come to see day after day, and week in, and week out. Adriana's name has been named with your name, and if her father and brother had not been at her side it would have been shadowed in the contact. Now to-morrow night you have a great entertainment; there could be no better time to announce your engagement. It will please your father to explain to the Woodsome people all that I have told you; and Antony can say in response all that is pleasant and necessary. To turn your ball into a betrothal feast would give Woodsome people a winter's conversation, and set Yanna where she ought to stand." Harry was silent, and Peter looked at him with a changing face. At length the young man said: "I do not think that would do, sir. Father cares nothing at all for society, and he would most likely be delighted to take the romantic part you assign him. But mother would feel the situation cruelly. It would get into the papers, and we should never hear the last of it. I could not bear it for Yanna's sake. I do not like people discussing her antecedents and prospects. I do not like them to speak of her at all. Mother is indeed very anxious that we should keep our engagement secret for a short time. She thinks it will help Rose to a settlement, and so hasten her own marriage." "Mr. Filmer, do you know what you are doing? You are asking my daughter to marry you, and then you are asking her to tell no one you have done so. Your proposal is an insult; take back your offer. No honorable man would make it. No honorable girl could accept it." "Yanna has given me her word. She has promised to be my wife." Peter did not answer him; but throwing open the door, he called, "Yanna! Yanna! Come here to me!" Something in his voice frightened Yanna. She came hastily downstairs, the tears she had been shedding still upon her cheeks. "Yanna," said her father, as he drew her close to his side, "Mr. Filmer wants to marry you--sometime. In the meantime, he does not want you to tell any one that he wants to marry you. Do you think that an honorable offer?" "No!--but, father, Harry has reasons we cannot properly appreciate. Society is cruel to those who have to live in it." "Right is right, and wrong is wrong, wherever and however men and women live! It is wrong to ask a woman to marry, and then say, 'Do not tell any one I have asked you.'" "Sir!" cried Harry, approaching Yanna, "Sir! you state the situation most cruelly. It is not fair to me. I am in a great strait. Yanna, dearest Yanna! cannot you say a word for me?"